July 7
2030
Southport, NC
We are enjoying the pretty little town of Southport NC, arriving here yesterday evening around 2030 after a 14 hour passage from Winyah Bay.
The weather was mostly sunny and pleasant but the winds were light for most of the trip here so we motor sailed most of the way, finishing the day with a beautiful downwind reach in 15-20 knot winds for our final fours out on the ocean.
Our original plan was to stay in a marina just inside the Cape Fear inlet but they could not accommodate us due to Intermezzo's beam. Plan B was to drop the hook in an anchorage just beyond this marina, but it was too exposed for wind conditions. Plan C was to anchor in the town of Southport's old yacht harbor, but two other boats were anchored in the small basin and it was too tight to consider squeezing in with daylight failing and the wind howling. So we snuck into Southport Marina and tied up alongside the dock for the adjacent boatyard. Amy made a delicious one-pot chicken dinner, which we washed down with our now traditional cups of rum.
After checking in with the marina office, moving Intermezzo to a proper slip and doing a few boat chores, we set off to explore Southport. Southport is a small town right on the Cape Fear river so picturesque that has been the location for many movies. There are some remnants of the once significant fishing industry, but now tourism and retirees are the mainstays of the town's economy. Historic commercial buildings, pretty little houses on tree-lined side streets, seafood restaurants, lots of pleasure boats, tiny sandy town beaches, little live oak pocket parks, a couple of small museums of local history...all add up to a very nice place to spend a couple of days.
Today we enjoyed Bloody Mary's at Oliver's, a waterfront bar where we watched the US Women's Soccer team win the final, walked around town, visited the town museum and then enjoyed a delicious lunch at Moore's Oyster Bar. The pre-lunch cocktail and two beers knocked me out for the afternoon. Lisa and Amy played cards while I napped.
Another day of tough sailing life.
